Simon Cowell is being lined up for a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor judge, 50, is expected to be dubbed “Sir” for his charity work and generating millions for the British record industry.

The man who launched singers like Leona Lewis and Susan Boyle is thought to have been recommended by Gordon Brown before he last week resigned as Premier .

Cowell surprisingly endorsed David Cameron to lead Britain in the final few days of campaigning. But Mr Brown had made no secret of his admiration for the mastermind behind the star-studded fundraising CD for the victims of this year’s Haiti earthquake.

Cowell, who has even dined at No10 with Mr Brown and wife Sarah, helped to raise almost £1million for the appeal by getting the likes of Robbie Williams and Rod Stewart to help record Everybody Hurts.

Now Westminster sources say he will be knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours on June 12.

One insider said: “Gordon Brown was very keen for Simon to get proper recognition for his work.

“He was particularly impressed by the way Simon responded to his suggestion to release the record for Haiti by dropping everything to ensure it was a success.

“And there’s also no doubt Simon has brought a great deal of happiness to millions of people with his music and TV shows.”

As well as donating millions each year to various charities and animal rescue centres, Cowell is a patron of Children’s Hospices UK and vowed to campaign for increased funding for hospices.

Meanwhile, the X Factor is shown in 17 countries while the Got Talent franchise is broadcast in 27. A close source added: “It would be an absolutely huge achievement and a wonderful tribute to all he’s achieved professionally.

“Simon deserves the honour because he does so much work behind the scenes for charity and publicly supports good causes.

“He has also generated millions in the music and entertainment industries, created thousands of jobs and helped make Sony a multinational conglomerate.

“Simon has always joked he’d be last in line for a knighthood. But, deep down, it’s his dream.”

The Syco Music co-owner, whose personal wealth is an estimated £165million, is set to wed make-up artist Mezhgan Hussainy soon.

He was unavailable for comment last night. But in a Mirror interview last year, he put his chances of being a Sir at “below zero”, saying: “I never did all this to get a knighthood. I am very lucky to do what I do and feel privileged.”